Window shutter



Aug. 29, 1950 F. w. BOPP ErAL WINDOW SHUTTER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FiledApril 14. 1947 Aug. 29, 19.50 F, w, BOPP ETAL 2,520,273

wINDow SHUTTER Filed April 14. 1947 2 sheets-sheet 2 iatented Aug. 29,1950 WINDOW SHUTTER Frederick William Bopp and Edward Otto Bopp, KansasCity, Mo.

Application April 14, 1947, Serial N0. 741,150

3 claims. l

This invention relates to improvements in window blinds or shutters andhas particular reference to window shutters having horizontally disposedoperating bars with a plurality of vertically disposed strips or barscarried therebetween. This invention is an improvement over the shuttershown in our copending application Ser. No. 577,3591/2, filed February12, 1945.

The principal object of the present invention is the provision of awindow shutter having a series of overlapping vertically disposed stripsprovided with operating means whereby said strips may be caused tooscillate on their respective longitudinal axes through an arc ofsubstantially 180.

Another object is the provision of a window shutter having a series ofoverlapping vertically disposed flexible strips provided with operatingmeans whereby said strips may be caused to os-l cillate on theirrespective longitudinal axes, and means for relatively adjusting theangle of oscillation at the upper and lower ends of said strips.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a verticallydisposed window shutter having a top operating bar and a bottomoperating bar horizontally disposed and operable by means of a singlecord to adjust the shutter throughout its length to control the air andlight to the room.

Other objects are simplicity and economy of construction, ease andeiliciency of operation, and adaptability for use wherever a shutter forcontrolling light and air is needed.

With these objects in view, as well as other objects which will appearduring the course of the speciiication, reference will now be had to thedrawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a window shutter embodying thepresent invention, mounted on the inside of a window frame and partiallybroken away.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on line lI-lI of Figure 1.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the shutter.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional view taken on line IV-IV of Figure 1.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section taken on line V--V ofFigure 1.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion of the parts shown in Figure 4,with the shutter strips shown partially open to admit light and airthrough the shutter.

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fore-shortened elevational 2 view of one of theshutter strips, partially broken away.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary view of a portion of one of theoperating bars with parts broken away.

Fig. 9 is a sectional view taken on line lX-IX of Figure 8.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary planar view of the ledge and its associatedparts partially broken away.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken on line XI--XI of Figure 5.

Fig. 12 is a detached elevational view of one of the operating shafts.

Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic cross sectional view of the shutter strips orslats showing their rela tive position and movement.

Fig. 14 is a longitudinal section through the turn-buckle adapted to beinserted in the operating cable for purposes of adjustment.

Fig. 15 is a sectional view taken on line XV- XV of Figure 14.

Throughout the several views like reference characters refer to similarparts and the numeral 22 designates a window frame having insidevertical facing members 22, header 2l, and window ledge 26. The shutteris secured to the window frame within the room by means including a topbracket 28 and a bottom bracket 3l which extend horizontally across thewindow frame as clearly shown. Each of these brackets are substantiallychannel-shaped having a longitudinal cross plate 32 and plates 3|. Theseend plates are perpendicular to the cross plates 32 and extend inwardlyto engage the edges of face members 22. Bracket 28 is provided adjacentits vertical central portion with a ledge or shelf 36 disposed in a,horizontal plane to receive the shutter operating means. The endportions of said ledge are firmly attached to end plates 34 by means ofbrackets 38.

Ledge 36 is vertically slotted at 42 at spaced apart points to receivethe operating shafts Il. Referring to Figures 10 and 12` it will benoted that each of said shafts is provided with an annular groove I6,thus presenting a reduced section of the shaft suitable for beinginserted into the slot l1 of the shaft securing bar ll. Said securingbar is relatively thin so as to iit snugly into the groove 50 formed inthe edge face of the ledge 36 to extend beyond the slots I2 so that whenthe slotted securing bar 43 is positioned to engage the annular groovedportion of the various operating shafts M they will be secured inposition in the ledge. In order to prevent ac- 3 cidental displacementof the securing bar 48, staples l2 are driven into the edge of ledge 36so as to siraddle said bar. The lower end of each operating shaft Ilextends below the lower surface of ledge 38 and is rebent to form a hook8l. Th`e upper portions of certain of shafts 44 each extend through theaxes of pulleys 56 and 81 which are positioned to rest on the face ofledge 3i. Shaft Il is odset to form a radial crank arm 58 which rests ina radial groove 60 formed in the upper surfaces of said pulleys therebysecuring the crank arm and pulley together for oscillatory movement. Atthe periphery of each of said pulleys the operating shaft Il is bentupwardb at right angles to the radial crank arm 58 to form a verticalstem 62 which is provided with an annular groove 64. The stems 82 of allof operating shafts Il are secured in fixed spaced apart relation in theoperating bar 86. Said operating bar is substantially rectangular incross section and is slotted longitudinally at 88, as shown in Figure 9,to a width suitable for receiving stems 62 and is provided with a blindslot 1l which intersects slot 68 and is adapted to contain securing bar12 having transverse slots 1l suitable for engaging in annular grooves6l of stems 62. In mounting this operating bar Si, the notched bar 12 isrst iltted on to the various stems of the operating shafts as described,and then bar 66 is slid thereon from one end of securing bar 12.

Since the lower bracket Il contains like parts slightly altered inposition, with the operating bar 66 positioned below the ledge 36, thecorresponding parts thereof are given like designating numerals asapplied to the parts just described. The shutter strips or slats 1| maybe made of fabric, plastic, wood, or any other suitable material;however, they are here shown as strips of fabric looped and hemmed attheir opposite ends to form boots 16, each adapted to receive therein astiiiening bar 18 having a hole 80 therethrough adjacent the edge of thehem, as shown in Figure 'L A helical spring 82 is attached in said holeat the upper end of each slat 1I, the opposite end of said spring beingattached to hook 54 of an operating shaft Il carried by frame 28. 'I'hehole Il at the lower end of said slat is engaged on hook 54 of thecorresponding shaft 44 carried by lower frame 3l. It is the purpose ofthis structure to mount these strips or slats under tension with springs82 partially extended. This tensioning means will always maintain thestrips in a taut position regardless of the expansion or contraction ofthe strip.

The operating cable 86 is secured by screw 88 to the periphery of upperpulley 56 at such a position as to permit a full half revolution of thepulley whereby the strips 1| may be moved through substantially 180.Referring to Figure 3, one end of cable 8i extending from screw 88passes around pulley 56, then around pulley 51, to which it is securedby screw 89, and then is attached to one end of a tension spring 90which in turn is secured at its other end by screw 92 to ledge 88. Astop 94 fixed to ledge 36 adjacent one arm 58 serves tolimit theoscillation of arms 58 to 180. 'I'he other end of cable 86 extendingfrom screw 88 passes around a pulley 8| rotatably mounted on the -uppersurface of ledge 36 and then downwardly through ledge 86 through slot 98formed through said ledge over a sheave wheel 96 carried in said slotThe cable then extends downwardly around sheave wheel |88 carried bylower 4 bracket 20 to a point below ledge 26, thence around pulley 51 towhich it is secured by screw 89, thence around pulley'i to which it issecured by screw |0i, and is fastened at its end to one end of a.tension spring |06 which is in turn fastened at its other end to ledge36 by means of screw |08. A stop |08 fixed to the lower surface of ledge36 adjacent one oi.' arms 58 serves to limit the oscillation of saidarms to 180.

Referring to the diagrammatic view in Figure 13 wherein two of thestrips are shown in their relative relation as disclosed in the diderentviews of the drawing, it will be noted that they overlap slightly at Aand that they rotate in the same direction as indicated by the arrows sothat the overlapped portions move away from each other. When the stripsare rotated through they will be in substantially right angled relationto their closed position so as to admit a maximum amount of light andair therebetween. By continuing the rotation of theA strips throughanother 90 angle, the strips will contact each other from the oppositedirections and the inside surface of the strips will then be exposed tothe outside view. It is contemplated to make the inside and outsidesurfaces of each of the strips of different general appearance so as toproduce desirable contrasting effects.

For the purpose of securing the shutter in any desired adjusted positionagainst displacement, a brake spring H2, secured in block I i4 attachedto ledge 36, is positioned to rest against the peripheries of each ofpulleys 51, with suflicient force to overcome the pull of springs 88 and|06 as long as said springs are partially balanced against each other bytheir opposing pulls on opposite ends of cable 86. Said pulleys, andstrips 1| operated thereby, are thus maintained in a set positionuntilthe operator grasps cable 86 between upper bracket 28 and lower bracketll and pulls up or down to rotate pulleys 56 and l1 against brakes II2.

A turnbuckle H0 may be inserted in cable 88 between the upper and lowerbrackets as shown in Figures 1 and 2. As shown in Figures 14 and 15,said turnbuckle includes end members III and 8 into which the ends ofcable 86 may be fixed by set screws |20. One of said end members isprovided with left hand threads and the other with right hand threads,and both end members are adapted to be engaged in a correspondinglythread central sleeve |22. Rotation of the' end members ||6 and H8relative to each other is prevented by an axially projecting squareextension |24 of end member l i6, which fits slidably in a squaredrecess |26 in end member H8. Thus it will be seen that whenever sleeve|22 is turned, said end members will be caused to move toward or apartfrom each other to vary the effective length of cable 86.

By thus adjusting the turnbuckle, the operating shafts Il at the upperand lower ends of strips 1| may be brought to substantially the sameangle of rotation, thus insuring that the strips will open or closeevenly throughout their length. In this manner, compensation may be madefor installation inaccuracies, stretching,

and expansion of the cable. Furthermore, by varying the relative angleof oscillation of the upper and lower ends of strips 1|, novel lightingeifects may be produced. For example, referring to Figure 4, it will beseen that if cable 86 is effectively lengthened by means of turnbuckleH0, no change in the relative angle of the lower end of strips 1| willoccur, since operative shafts 44 are prevented from movingcounter-clockwise by stop |09. Referring to Figure 3, it will be seenthat lengthening cable 86 as described, will cause pulleys 56 and 51 tobe turned clockwise by spring 90, since brake spring H2 is not strongenough to prevent the rotation of the pulleys when spring 90 is notopposed by the counter-pull of spring |06. Thus, strips 1I are caused tobe partially twisted, being turned to admit light at their upper ends,while being closed at their lower ends. Turnbuckle H also serves as ahandgrip when operating cable 86 in the usual manner to open and closethe shutter.

While the drawings embody one form of the invention, it is apparent thatmany minor changes might be made in the shape and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Having thus described our invention, what We claim as new and desire tobe secured by Letters Patent is:

l. A shutter comprising a pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontallydisposed brackets adapted to be mounted directly on a window frame; apair of like series of vertically disposed shafts mounted respectivelyfor oscillation in said brackets; means including pulleys associatedwith each series of shafts operatively to engage each shaft of theseries and manually operable simultaneously to oscillate all of saidshafts in like manner; a cable passing about the pulleys associated withboth series and manually operable to turn said pulleys; a spring fixedto each of said brackets whereby said cable is tensioned; a turnbuckleinterconnected in said cable whereby the effective length thereof may bevaried to cause relative oscillation of said series of shafts; and aseries of strips of material, each strip being connected under tensionat its opposite ends to corresponding shafts of the two series of shaftswhereby as said shafts are oscillated, said strips will be oscillated ontheir longitudinal axes to vary the light spaces therebetween.

2. A shutter comprising a pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontallydisposed brackets adapted to be secured respectively to the top andbottom portions of a window frame; two like series of verticallydisposed, rotatably mounted shafts carried respectively by saidbrackets, each shaft having a bell crank lever at its one end; anoperating bar associated with each of said series of shafts to engageeach bell crank lever thereof a pulley rigidly ilxed to one of saidshafts adjacent each end of both of said series of shafts; a tensionedcable passing about said pulleys and manually operable to oscillate theshafts of both series simultaneously; a series of strips of ma.- terial,each strip being connected, under tension, at its opposite ends tocorresponding shafts of the two series; stops whereby the oscillation ofsaid strips on their longitudinal axes is limited e to substantially180; and a turnbuckle interconnected in said cable intermediate its endswhereby the effective length of said cable may be varied to turn saidupper series and said lower series of shafts independently, saidturnbuckle having opposingly threaded end members threaded into arotatable central sleeve; and means preventing the relative rotation ofsaid end members.

3. A shutter comprising a pair of vertically spaced apart, horizontallydisposed brackets adapted to be secured respectively to the top andbottom portions of a window frame; two like series of verticallydisposed, rotatablymounted shafts carried respectively by said brackets,each shaft having a bell crank lever at its one end; an operating barassociated with each of said series of shafts to engage each bell cranklever thereof; manually operable means including a cable tosimultaneously oscillate all of said shafts in .like direction andthrough the same arc; a turnbuckle interconnected in said cable wherebythe length of said cable may be effectively varied to cause the upperand lower series of shafts to oscillate independently, said turnbucklecomprising opposingly threaded end pieces to which the ends of saidcable are xed and which are engaged by a correspondingly threadedcentral sleeve, one of said members having a non-circular axialprojection adapted to be engaged in a similarly shaped recess in theother of said end members thereby preventing the relative rotation ofsaid end members; a series of strips of material, each strip beingconnected, under tension, at its opposite ends to corresponding shaftsof the two series whereby said strips may be adjusted throughsubstantially a half revolution on their longitudinal axes to vary thespace between adjacent strips and to reverse the sides of the shutter.

FREDERICKWILLIAM BOPP. EDWARD O'ITO BOPP.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the me ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 20,965 Norton Jan. 3, 1939541,346 Eckert June 18, 1895 550,559 Joseph Nov. 26, 1895 2,030,234Villalobos Feb. 11, 1936 2,158,454 Zubiria` May 16, 1939 2,165,669 WadeJuly 11, 1939 2,173,275 Houmere Sept; 19, 1939 FOREHGN PATENTS NumberCountry Date n 96,594 Germany Mar. 30, 1898

